Helping People with HIV Age Well

“People living with HIV can experience age-related health concerns earlier than the general population, leading them to prematurely experience cognitive and functional decline. We see people experiencing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers much earlier than we might expect, as well as falls and fragility,” says Matthew L. Russell, MD, co-medical of MGH’s Age Positively Program, a partnership between the Geriatric Medicine and Infectious Diseases divisions. The program provides care and resources to enhance the care and well-being of people with HIV as they age.

“I’ve had a patient tell me, since getting diagnosed with HIV, they have lived their life in six-month increments, not knowing what changes were around the corner. Due to medical advancements, HIV patients now have a similar life span to those without HIV,” Russell says.

“From the HIV provider perspective, care has historically focused care on HIV-related issues such as medication adherence and prevention and treatment of infections,” says Virginia A. Triant MD, MPH, co-medical of MGH’s Age Positively Program. “As people with HIV are living longer and confronting an increased and accelerated burden of chronic diseases, there is a shifting focus of care for many to issues related to aging. Our program optimally addresses these issues through a clinical and educational forum.”

Typically, patients are referred to the Age Positively Program from their HIV care provider. During an initial assessment, a geriatric physician addresses their physical and mental health. They discuss challenges the patient may experience in caring for themselves or others and explore physical and cognitive function. The clinician conducts a thorough medication review to see if medications can be streamlined or optimized.

“We also spend a lot of time ensuring coordination of care because our patients often have several doctors. We focus too on their spirit; we talk with our patient about what matters most to them as they move forward in their stage of life. Together, we create a roadmap that will hopefully optimize their overall functionality and will set the stage for a positive aging experience,” says Russell.

The Age Positively Program also has an educational component, offering informational sessions for people with HIV on a variety of topics relevant to healthy aging with HIV.

To learn more about the MGH Age Positively Program and informational sessions, visit the Age Positively Program page.